Website promotes Washougal as a tourism destination

Site creation and support were paid with lodging tax money

Local bird expert Wilson Cady is among the people featured on a new website, www.visitwashougal.com, that provides visitors with information on what to see and do in Washougal. In addition to bird watching, featured options include hiking, shopping, dining and fishing.

The owner and creative director of D. Studio 21, Inc., has created another website, intended to draw people to Washougal.

Heather Jordan and her team collaborated with Lone Wolf Development in 2013, to promote the downtown area.

The newest collaboration is a city of Washougal tourism website, that invites visitors to “Keep Discovering Washougal.” The site, www.visitwashougal.com, involved Jordan, her employees and marketing/communications consultant Rene Carroll.

The $14,300 project cost was paid with lodging tax money.

Carroll said the event and business directories are designed to better serve and connect Washougal’s business community.

“The business directory profiles are managed by the business owners to ensure accuracy, and local events may be submitted for inclusion in the event calendar,” she said. “We encourage local businesses to promote their products and services to visitors by adding their business to the directory.”

Deb Hoff-Frye, co-owner of Fireworks Photography, took photographs of local people doing various activities for the website. Scenic images were provided by Mitch Hammontree, Wanda Nelson, Dave Miller, the city of Washougal and others.

The site provides visitors with information on what to see and do in Washougal, including area hikes, bird watching locations, shopping, dining and fishing.

“The primary audience for the site is visitors to the area, but we hope that locals also find the information useful as well,” Washougal Mayor Sean Guard said in a press release.

“All indications are that the Columbia River Gorge will be seeing a rise in tourism, and Washougal is the north shore gateway to the Gorge,” he added. “This site is designed to let visitors know why they should stop by Washougal and stay awhile.”

For more information, email visitwashougal@gmail.com or contact Rose Jewell at 835-8501.